Keratoconus comes about when the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape, thereby resulting in vision problems.
The bulging of the cornea caused by keratoconus causes blurred vision and sensitivity to light and glare. The condition normally affects people aged 10 to 25 and the condition might progress for 10 years or more.
Keratoconus may cause substantial distortion of one’s vision, with multiple images, streaking and sensitivity to light all often reported by the patient. A person infected with this condition is visually affected and may face difficult to drive a car or read a normal print.
Keratoconus signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of this infection may change as the disease progresses. These are increased sensitivity to bright light and glare, problems with night vision, sudden worsening or clouding of vision, caused by a condition in which the back of the cornea ruptures and fills with fluid, blurred vision, itching of the eye but there is usually slight or no sensation of pain.
Keratoconus causes
The cause of keratoconus still remains unclear although environmental and genetic factors are considered possible causes. It has also been associated with vigorous rubbing of the eyes, wearing contact lenses for several years, a combination of several disorders and hereditary factors like Down syndrome and other eye conditions. One may also have higher chance of developing keratoconus if he or she has a family history of the disease.
Keratoconus complications
Keratoconus infections come with several complications. A cornea may swell quickly and cause sudden reduced vision and scarring of the cornea, anxiety and in some cases, the cornea may become scarred. A scarred cornea worsens vision and may eventually require corneal transplant surgery.
When to seek medical attention for keratoconus
One should promptly see a doctor if and when he or she has had irregular curvature of the eye and the eyesight seems to be worsening quickly. The eye doctor may look for signs of the condition during the routine eye exams and advice accordingly.
Keratoconus treatment
Keratoconus just like keratitis thus, is an eye infection that normally affect individuals especially those at adolescent stages. Its signs and symptoms may vary as the disease progresses but common among them is blurred vision. The cause of this eye infection has not been quite proved scientifically although various theoretical approaches have been advanced towards the same.
It is prudent that immediately one recognizes any of the aforementioned signs and symptoms with the eyes, he or should see the doctor for medical advice. This helps in reducing the complications that might come with this infection like reduced vision and anxiety. Maintaining high standards of personal hygiene is necessary as this forms the basis in preventing such diseases in humans. Before one embarks on treating keratoconus, a diagnosis should be conducted by a qualified doctor since an individual can prescribe a wrong medication for keratoconus, further causing other complications.